American Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert in Fairfield includes MLK-inspired compostion

Staff reports

Published
2:16 pm EST, Thursday, February 13, 2020

The American Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield on March 7 will include the emotionally charged cello concerto of Sir Edward Elgar, with Gjorgi Kroqi, pictured, as the cello soloist.

The American Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield on March 7 will include the emotionally charged cello concerto of Sir Edward Elgar, with Gjorgi Kroqi, pictured, as

The American Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield on March 7 will include the emotionally charged cello concerto of Sir Edward Elgar, with Gjorgi Kroqi, pictured, as the cello soloist.

The American Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield on March 7 will include the emotionally charged cello concerto of Sir Edward Elgar, with Gjorgi Kroqi, pictured, as

American Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert in Fairfield includes MLK-inspired compostion

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The American Chamber Orchestra Winter Concert at the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield on Saturday, March 7, will feature the world premiere of the Symphony No. 5 by Rex Cadwallader.

This symphony is dedicated to the life and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The program also will include Beethoven’s dramatic Leonore Overture No. 3 and the emotionally charged cello concerto of Sir Edward Elgar, with Gjorgi Kroqi as the cello soloist.

Cadwallader is a noted jazz pianist, composer and educator. He received an Emmy Award in 1999 for his original score for “The Connecticut River: A Journey Through Time” shown on PBS, and has received composition and performance awards from numerous sources. He is chairperson of the Performing Arts Department at Greens Farms Academy in Westport.

Cello soloist Kroqi has performed with numerous local orchestras, including the Bridgeport Symphony and the Wallingford Symphony. He was the music director, chamber orchestra conductor and cello coach for the Greater Waterbury Youth Symphony for 15 years and is currently orchestra director at the Roger Ludlow Middle School in Fairfield. He also teaches at The Taft School in Watertown and is a string coach with the Connecticut Youth Orchestras.

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